Liquid-flow switch



July 51o, 1928i. 1 1,676,753

' W. R. WALKER LIQUID FLow swIT'cH v Filed April 21, i925 INVENTOR nsATTORNEY Y I switches of the liquid flow type and particu- Patented July10, 414928.

UNITED STATES PTNT, 1

WARREN R. WALKER, 0F GREAT KILLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 COOPER HEWITTELECTRIC COMPANY, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

LIQUID-mow SWITCH.

Appnation mea prix 21, 1925. serial' No. 24,753.

My present invention relates to electric larly to such a switch -whereinis provided means for protecting the wall of the switch envelope properfrom the effects of any areing yproduced during the operation of theswitch.

In the switch described and claimed below are combined features whichpermit the making of a compact and durable switch capable of makingY andbreaking current paths carrying high amperages and inductive loads.y

In the drawing forming part. of this application:

lFig. 1 is a vertical elevation view in section taken longitudinallythrough the center of a mercury switch embodying my invention having anouter envelope of vitreous material such as glass and electrodes sealedthereinto at each end, one of which terminates within a cup of vitreousmaterial formed integral with the wall of said cnvelope with vitreousinsulating material ex tending over and actually covering the electrodebetween said cup and the envelope wall, and asleeve of highly.refractory vitreonsmaterial such as fused silica and ada-ptcd io shieldthe envelope wall from any arcing which occurs during the operation ofthe switch.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing an elec- 'trodecup for the switch andthe electrode and cup stem therefor and showing the cup stem proper asbeing made of a material suitable for the sealing therethrough of theelectrode and a cup of mort` highly rc fractory materia-l to withstandthe arcing occuring durin the operation of the switch and a grade sealbetween the stem proper and .the electrode cup, and,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing an electrode cup preferably of thesanie material 'as that of the switchV envelope but having formed alongthe edge of the opening thereof a rim having an outward drag and aferrule of highly refractory material such for example as fused quartzformed as an annular chanel with an inward drag or curve on the outermember thereof, the ferrnle being held on the rim of the cup by means ofa lsuitable cement between the outwardly drag member of -the cup and theinwardly drag member1 of the ferrule. i

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing the sealed envelope 1 as of aboro-silicateglass, has

Y sealed therethrough at one end the electrode 2 asvoftungsten which iscovered on that portion thereof which extends into vthe switch and towithin a short distance of the inner end by a coating 3 as of aboro-silicate glass which coating is made integral with the wall of theenvelope. As shown in the drawing this electrodev preferably extendsydownwardly toward the interior of the switch. The similarly mounted andinclined electrode 4 is'sealed in through the opposite end of the switchand has over the surface of its inner portion a coating 5 of thematerial of the envelope formed integral with .the envelope l whichcoating terminates in a cup 6 formed about the inner end of theelect-rode 4 and opening upwardly'into the interior of theenvelope 1.Within the envelope 1 and extending substantially the length thereofabout said electrodes is mounted the sleeve 7 of highlyrefractoryvitreous material such for example as fused silica.. This sleeve 7 fitsfairly closely in the envelope 1 and is slipped thereinto before thedrawing down and closing of one end of the envelope. The body of mercury8 serves for connecting electrodes 2 and 4 and for breaking the paththerebetween by flow thereof during the operating of the switch in amanner well known in the operation of this type of switches.

ln Fig. 3 is shown a cup 6' sealed to the 'electrode coating 5 and agraded seal 10.

Said cup 6 yif of a very highly refractory material such as fused silicaand the coating 5 is for example of a glass such as borosilicate glasssuitable for the sealing-in of a metal such as tungsten of whichelectrode 4 is made and the graded seal 10 such for example as gradedmixtures of fused borates and silicates is provided between the sleeve 5and the' cup 6 in a manner Well known in the glass working art.

In Fig. 4 is shown a cup 6 as in the switch of Fig. 2, but having formedalong the edge of the opening thereof a rim 11which has an outward drag.The cup 6 like rim 11 is preferably made of the same material as theswitch envelope 1 shown in Fig. 1 which is in apreferred form.v ofboro-silicate. glass,

On'the rim 10 is seated a ferrule 12 which has the shape. of anannuluswith an inverted U shaped cross section, the outer member 13 ofvwhich isgiven an inward drag which b serves together with the outwardly drag rim11 to lock said ferrule and the cup through the 'medium of alillng 14 ofa suitable cement interposed therebetween, such cement bein' for exampleof fused silver chloride.` 'I e ferrule 12 in the use body of the switch1, the stem coating and the cup 6 are in some-cases all made of'` a esoft glass such as lime glass. In other vvcases they are allv made of aboro-silicate glass. 4In either case the sleeve 7 is made either of limeglass, boro-silicate glass, or fused quartz with a graded 1seal betweenthe envelope and the cup when they are of different material. Also insome cases I make the cup 6 of borosilicate glass and the envelope 1 ofva soft glass such as lime`glass and connect them through a suitablegraded seal-in the manner well known in the art. The electrodos 2 and 4are` in some cases made ,of nickel, or iron, or dumet wire.

' I claim- 1. In a mercury switch having a sealed envelope of glass,electrodes sealed therethrough Aand terminating therein, onel ofy whichhas mounted about the e'nd thereof a cu of vitreous material openinginto the enve ope and having integral connection with said envelopethrou h a sleeve of vitreous 'material covering sald electrode betweenthe cup and the envelope wall,'and an integrall lining within saidenvelope and spaced apart therefrom at a short distance and positionedacross the shortest path between the enve-v lope wall and any partforming position which said conductors Acan assume in any position ofthe switch. l

2. In a mercury switch having a sealed envelope -of glass, electrodessealed therethrough and terminating therein, one of which has mountedabout the end thereof a cu of vitreous material opening into the enveope and having integral connection with said envelope through a sleeveo'f vitreous material covering said electrode between the cup andtheenvelo wall, and an integral lining or fused sillca within said enveopeand spaced apart thereform at a short distance and ositioned across theshortest pathv between t elenvelope wall and any part of the switchserves to protect thematerial4 .extendingr substantially 6 from any arcproduced during' th y throughout the lengthllof the envelope.

ou's material coveringA said electrode between the cup and the envelopewall, and an integral 'lini'ng within-said envelope and spaced' aparttherefrom at. a Short distance and' 15 throughout the. j llength o eenvelope.

4.' In a mercury switch havin a sealed envelope of glass, electrodes seaed' therethrough and terminating therein, one of -which has mountedabout the end thereof a cu of vitreous material opening into the .enveope and. having integral connection' withsaid envelope througha sleeveof vitreous material covering' saidelectrode between theicup and theenvelope wall, and an inten gral lining lof fused silica within saidenvelope and spaced [apart therefrom at a short distance and extendingsubstantially 5. In a mercury switchhaving a sealed\ enevel'ope ofglass, velectrodes sealed therethrough' and terminating therein, one ofwhich has mounted' about the end thereof a. cup of vitreousmaterialopening into the envelope and having integral connection with saidenvelope through a sleeve `of vitreous material covering said electrodethroughout between said cup and envelope, and an integral lining withinsaid envelo and Vspaced apart therefrom at a short distance andextending substantially throughout the length 'of the envelope. v 6. Ina mercury switch having a sealed envelo e of glass, electrodessealed'there- 10! throug extendingdownwardl thereinto and terminating.therein, one o which has mounted about the end thereof `a cup of vitAlll ` substantially throughout the length of the envelope.

`7. In "a mercury switch` havingv a sealed envelope 'of boro-silicateglass, electrodes sealed therethrough andterminatingthere- `in, one ofwhich is of tungstenand hasv mounted about the end thereof a cup formedof fused silica opening into the envelope and having integra connectionwith -sald "enk velope through a sleeve of vitreous material-coveri`ngsaid electrode throughout between said cupA and said envelope andembodying a graded seal of fused silicates and borates betweensaidboro-silic'ate envelope and said fused 'quartz cup', l' y* 'mountedabout the end thereo 'and having integral connection with said envelopethrough a sleeve of vitreous material covering said electrode throughoutbetween sid cup and said envelo e and embodying a graded seal of fusedsllicates and borates between said boro-silicate envelope and said fusedquartz cup.

9. In a mercury switch having a sealed envelope of vitreous material,electrodes sealed therthrough extending thereinto and terminatintherein, one of vwhich has mounted a out the end thereof a cup ofviterous material opening into the envelope and having integralconnection with said envelope thrqugh a .sleeve of vitreous materialcovering said electrode between the cup and the envelope wall, said cuphaving a protectin ring interposed thereon about the edge of t e openingthereof of a more highlyfrefractory material.

' y10. In a mercury switch havinga sealed envelope of vitreous materiahvelectrodes sealed therethrough extending thereinto and terminatingtherein, one of lwhich has mounted about the end thereof a cupofvitreous material opening into the envelope v' and having integralconnection with said envelope through a sleeve ofvitreous materialcovering said electrode between the cup andthe envelope wall, said cuphaving a rim formed integral therewith about the edge of the openingthereof, and a protecting ring of fused silica interposed on said rimand cemented thereon with fused silver 40 chloride. 11. In a mercuryswitch having a sealed envelope of vitreous material, electrodes sealedtherethrough extending thereinto and terminating therein, one 'of whichhas 45` mounted about the end thereof a cup of vitreous material openinginto the envelope and having integral connection with said envelopethrough a sleeve of vitreous material covering said electrodebetween thecup and 60 the envelope wall, said cup havingl a rim ,v

formed integral -therewith about the edge of the opening thereof, and aprotecting ring'4 of fused silica interposed on said rim andA cementedthereon with fused silver chloride .and an integral lining of fusedsilica within said ,envelope and spaced apart therefrom at a shortdistance. i

12. In a mercury switch, a sealed envelope` o f vitreous material,electrodes sealed into said envelope a lining in said envelope betweenthe wall thereot and the terminals of said electrodes, a sleeve ofvitreous material formed about each of said electrodes having integralconnection with the wall of said 52 envelope and extending to andterminating at a position within said sleeve and leavin a portion of theelectrode thereat expose for electrical contact, one of said sleeveshaving formed integral therewith a cup of '.Vit- 70 reous material aboutthe electrode terminal and opening into the envelope, and a body ofmercury in the envelope.

Signed at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey,lthis 20 day 75 of April A. D. 1925.

WARREN RWALKERf.

